Canfield’s Kimu Kim reflects on record-breaking night

They say that records are made to be broken, but they also say that there is an exception to every rule. The records set Friday night in Canfield’s 70-62 double-overtime win at Niles may rule the record books for years to come.

It all started with Canfield quarterback Kimu Kim, whose nine rushing touchdowns are the most ever produced by an Ohio high school football player in a single game.

But there was more. Lots more.

The 132 points scored by the two clubs is the most ever in a game played in Trumbull County. The two teams combined for 19 touchdowns, including 16 in regulation. During the first four quarters of play, there was a touchdown scored on average every three minutes.

The two teams combined for 1,189 total yards.

Remarkably, the Cardinals scored 10 touchdowns despite the fact they completed just one of two pass attempts for two yards. One of their possessions was a 16-play drive which chewed up 7:38 of the third quarter.

Kim set school records for rushing yards (497), touchdowns (9) and rushing attempts (52). Kim’s nine rushing touchdowns is a state record. He broke the previous record of eight, held by five players.

“When I was told I broke the record, I looked at the players that were on the list and I just had to shake my head,” Kim said. “To be even listed with those guys, it’s a great honor. This is something I will remember for a lifetime.”

Kim said that his record-setting night didn’t sink in until Saturday morning.

“As the game was going on, I had no idea what I was accomplishing, and I didn’t realize what a special game we were involved in,” Kim said. “In the moment, you’re just worried about the next play. I was only focused on each possession as it was happening.

“After all was said and done, you step back and you’re like, ‘Wow, did that really happen?’”

In addition to nine touchdowns, Kim also ran for a two-point conversion. His 56 points scored ranks seventh in Ohio history, and his 497 rushing yards is the fifth-best in state history, and is a record in the Mahoning Valley.

Like Kim, Paden accounted for nine touchdowns. He threw for a school-record six TDs, and scored three touchdowns on the ground. He also threw for a pair of two-point conversions, meaning he helped produce 58 of Niles’ 62 points (another school mark).

Paden threw for 505 yards, a Valley record which ranks 29th statewide. He has now thrown for 1,826 yards on the year, already a single-season school record through just six games.

“That game is a tough one to lose, but at the same time I know we’ll all look back and realize we were part of something special,” Paden said. “It’s something people will talk about for a long time. It’s something we’ll tell our kids and grandkids about.”

Like Kim, Paden said he had no idea what type of personal statistics he was compiling as the game wore on.

“In the moment, you’re only concern is to match (Canfield) score for score,” Paden said. “I was so wrapped up in just trying to score any way possible, I was never thinking what night I was having.”

“Someone told me after the game that I had over 500 passing yards, and I was totally shocked.”

Though Kim admits that his record-setting night “will always have a special place in my heart,” he insists the fact the Cardinals were able to secure their first win of the season was more important than individual numbers.

“We fought hard all season, we never gave up,” Kim said. “I’m just happy we got the victory and I’m happy for my line. They earned every yard I picked up.”